Low low lowest level dressage test

[AnastasiaBeaverhousen]

Many years ago , the wording for the free walk, was Free Walk on loose rein or Free walk on long rein.

We had a lot of spirited debate on just what that meant, and we didn’t have any sufficiently educated enough to tell us

"Complete freedom " to me is not much better considering how technical and detailed dressage is .

Lenghtenibg the reins as you ride along the diagonal is an invitation for the horse to follow and allows the horse to lower the nose and neck down. It demonstrates that the horse is seeking the contact from a steady and consistent hand.

You do see a lot of riders push the hand forward
or dropping the hand below the withers, and or opening the fingers, none of which is correct.

This is because they haven’t received the correct instruction on both how to do it and why .

There are some very good videos on YouTube on the correct way to do the stretchy walk.

At higher levels the test requires the rider to perform a stretchy trot, I believe on a circle or a half circle.

This is to demonstrate both that the horse is submissive and that rider is using leg and seat aids and not just the reins .

Again, the point is that the rider is not loosening the reins to the point where they “throw away” the contact. The reins are lengthened so that horse can lower the nose and neck down and forward.

I hope this helps.

I also hope you have fun at your show.

[eightpondfarm]

@AnastasiaBeaverhousen

You do see a lot of riders push the hand forward
or dropping the hand below the withers, and or opening the fingers, none of which is correct.

Ok, so it’s not 1, (do not know what ‘push forward’ means exactly?) 2, or 3. (assuming opening up the fingers means letting reins slide through). So, if it’s none of the above…what IS the way to let the horse go ‘completely free’ without lowering your hands or letting the reins out?

@AnastasiaBeaverhousen

This is to demonstrate both that the horse is submissive and that rider is using leg and seat aids and not just the reins .

Cool. I can see how it would be a challenge to keep them from tightening in (making the circle smaller). Would be harder to keep a nice wide circle than it would be to keep a straight line on the diagonal. LOL…probably why it happens in the higher tests huh.

@AnastasiaBeaverhousen

Lenghtening the reins as you ride along the diagonal is an invitation for the horse to follow and allows the horse to lower the nose and neck down. It demonstrates that the horse is seeking the contact from a steady and consistent hand.

This i think my mare adequately demonstrates. In our lessons anyway. not so sure what will happen in public…lol.
now, WHY a horse wants that is something i have not been able to figure out.

@AnastasiaBeaverhousen

"Complete freedom " to me is not much better considering how technical and detailed dressage is .

Complete freedom is the sticky part. THe wording is actually different than what they mean. So…quite hard to figure-out.

[soloudinhere]

@eightpondfarm

now, WHY a horse wants that is something i have not been able to figure out.

Because the working horse finds a partnership with the rider and one of the means of making that connection is through the reins.

It’s hard to explain to someone before they have felt the amount of power that develops as the horse learns the upper level movements but even though the contact is not heavy, it is the closure of the loop through which the power and energy cycles.

Horses don’t all actively seek to avoid us and avoid work. Those that enjoy the work and the challenge of the increasingly difficult movements welcome the engagement of the hand and find security in it (assuming you are a kind rider, of course.)

[SillyHorse]

Complete freedom to stretch forward and down doesn’t mean telling the horse, “just do what you want,” not that anyone is advocating that. But we can allow freedom and maintain contact, too.

An example that really demonstrates this well comes not from dressage, but from the jumper world.

This is Kathy Kusner allowing Untouchable complete freedom to use his back and neck while she follows with her hands and arms to maintain contact.

And with Aberali.

[eightpondfarm]

@soloudinhere

It’s hard to explain to someone before they have felt the amount of power that develops as the horse learns the upper level movements but even though the contact is not heavy, it is the closure of the loop through which the power and energy cycles.

a working horse. i actually do know this, though riding bareback only, not with dressage. I’ve had a few horses that i’d consider my ‘lower half’. Farm horses that will move wayward sheep through heavily wooded trees as-if they were agility dogs on weave poles. That will slow, stop, pivot, chase a cow/calf up through a gate. I get the concept of a horse wanting to work, and also seeking a partnership. Just no experience of working a horse through the bit- i’ve always used snaffles btw. Here’s me with what i considered a ‘death grip’ on a young stud horse

Kinda like, they own their head, i own their body sort-of-thing. So, now, in here,(dressage) i’m to take hold of their head too. It is the hard-part for me!

[atr]

I think one of the hardest things to explain to new dressage riders is that horses actually seek and want a steady, elastic contact, for all of the reasons listed above, and that it isn’t “hanging onto their mouth.”

The key is in that “steady and elastic” part. Which has little to do with the hands and much to do with the independence of the seat.

[eightpondfarm]

@atr

I think one of the hardest things to explain to new dressage riders is that horses actually seek and want a steady, elastic contact, for all of the reasons listed above, and that it isn’t “hanging onto their mouth.”

yesss…everything you just said!

[SusanO]

Contact is an easy concept but devilishly hard to do. You can understand what it is and not make your own body do what it is supposed to do. So if you struggle - you are not alone. People that think loose reins are kinder to the horse are frequently hitting the horse in the mouth inadvertently. Having an elastic contact is one of those things you have to work at and does not mean you are heavy/ pull on the reins. Clear as mud? HAHA!

[Jealoushe]

Here is a free walk for the lower levels around 1:29. This is my horses first event and it’s equivalent to Training level dressage.

Grandview Sept 2021 - Not Just A Valley Girl Dressage

We got a 7 on the free walk but she could have stretched more at the end. You can see she has freedom but the reins aren’t thrown away. You want to slowly let the reins out at the horse takes them and then slowly bring them back to normal. You legs will keep the horse marching and walking straight

[eightpondfarm]

pretty mare!
So, you began collecting her up too soon then? I see her head raising, but couldn’t really see what your hands were doing.

really enjoyed seeing your whole test too. Thank you for sharing!!

[soloudinhere]

Here is a photo of a very, very green horse about 30 days from the ranch auction I bought him from, working in an intro-level free walk (thankfully, I have since lost 30 pounds).

[eightpondfarm]

Hard to see…but it looks like you have a loose rein, so ‘complete freedom’ attained. Your guy looks like he’s moving right along nicely, energetic esp in the hind. Is the degree of his nose/neck good enough for Intro and assuming they (judges) know this element to be a work in progress with all the horses entered in this class?

your seat looks relaxed. 30# wow. How?

[Jealoushe]

No problem! We had some issues with the puddle there in our canter she just got distracted and looked up at the horses in the other ring in the free walk. It was a big atmosphere for her first event. I should have kept her a bit more connected.

My coach always said it’s better to maintain a nice soft outline than to throw the reins away entirely and have the back drop and the horse just slug along or even worse - jiggy jog lol

[soloudinhere]

Yes, this got an 8.

The horse is moving forward with energy into a long but still connected rein, with the elasticity coming from my elbow rather than slack in the rein. The nose is below the point of the shoulder and the topline is lengthened, the gait is regular, and the horse is showing relaxation and focus.

As for the weight, I signed up for a gym and got over my fear of lifting weights, and leaned out about 20 of those pounds in a very slow recomp. The remaining 10 (working on another 5) was diet and increasing my cardio. This horse eventually went 4th level before we unfortunately lost him to EPM.

[hoopoe]

soloud describes this movement well.
Freedom is not the absence of rein ( floppy)
freedom is the willingness to move forward ; energy flows forward and out from the shoulder. That energy comes from the hind end through the rider. A rider can block freedom from a tense seat and a restraining hand.

this movement allows the horse to take his energy forward from the hind end into your soft hand, The hands need to receive some energy so it can return in the circle of energy. Ultimately this circle is completed back through the belly through lifting.

this is the foundation of much of the work.to come. you present the horse forward and regain a more level carriage through continued hind end energy into a more receiving hand asking the horse to step under and into your hand.

Judges are looking for willingness and acceptance; sensible steady and attentive ( within reason when dealing with babies) They are not looking for a perfect polished gem. They accept errors on the part of the horse and the rider. That is what the level is about

You want to show and focus on steady forward with reasonable level balance compliant bend and acceptance of your gentle hand

[Lunabear1988]

OP, for reference, in my video my free walk is our weakest area. I think we got a 6, I’ll check.

We needed more march and stretch down. So do better than us ha ha!